Fri 24 Oct 2014 | 09:31
Friday Funnies - Nigel Owens is straighter than this lineout throw

15
Comments

Referee Nigel Owens has always fancied himself as a bit of a comedian on the field. The openly gay referee has actually done a bit of stand up comedy in his time, and also happens to be arguably the best referee in the world these days.

While he's been criticised as liking the spotlight a bit too much at times, there's no denying that he is a funny man, and if he lets the game flow and positively influences some of the classic matches we've seen of late - particularly in the Rugby Championship - then more power to him.

In the Harlequins vs Castres European Rugby Champions Cup game last Friday night Owens was on hand to spot a very skew Dave Ward lineout throw, and delivered this well timed comment.

If you didn't know already, Owens is gay, so the not straight comment was as amusing as it was refreshing to hear. You'd imagine it probably threw the front rowers slightly though.

You can view more of Owens' quips in the Related Posts below this, which include him telling off 30 grown men, pointing a player in the direction of a football field, and his 'This is not Soccer' line. 

You can always watch a really interesting feature on him from ITV a few years back, where he talks about stand up comedy, steroid use and contemplating suicide. Those dark days are over, and now he simply excels on the field with his refereeing, and the occasional comedic sideshow.

15 Comments

  • kadova
    12:58 PM 27/10/2014

    I love Nigel. As said before, he can say this because he's gay. And everybody knows he likes having fun on the pitch.

  • kadova
    12:56 PM 27/10/2014

    LOL, that's absolutely brilliant ! Clap ! Clap ! Clap !

  • drg
    8:48 AM 26/10/2014

    Not a fan of this incident to be honest...

    I don't have a problem with Nigel Owens or the phrase he used, but more the timing... As Canadian content said above, he should have saved it for someone who was complaining. (at least obviously complaining)..

    I just feel like there was a bit of a silence and he thought he'd get a few laughs by filling that silence and nothing came of it.. just a sort of awkward 'ok then' type of situation.

    Also, as 10stone10 said, if someone else had said it, can you imagine the sort of s**t-storm that would ensue...

  • danknapp
    7:47 PM 25/10/2014

    I hope this is a KFC reference.

  • 4:49 PM 25/10/2014

    Well played Nigel but would have loved for you to save that for one someone was whinging about. That would have been classic.

    On his reffing, although still a little theatrical, and let's face it all great refs are, I find he's picking his spots better nowadays and letting the game flow but still enjoying himself.

  • jimmy23
    8:10 AM 25/10/2014

    DanKnapp produces the daily zinger

  • straightenup
    3:02 AM 25/10/2014

    I laughed out loud so regard this as my extra Like.

  • danknapp
    8:43 PM 24/10/2014

    Damn, are only black people allowed to called him Nigel?

  • eddie-g
    4:50 PM 24/10/2014

    Brilliant. Love the bloke (although not in that way, not that there'd be anything wrong with that).

  • jeri
    3:47 PM 24/10/2014

    Oh Nigel, never change

  • 2:23 PM 24/10/2014

    ha. as a gay man, i found that funny. it all depends on who's saying it and their intent. for instance, i wouldn't use the n word as i'm not black. like the comment above on Julian Clary. Funny too. You are making a joke - and if only people could laugh at themselves or others a bit more without going all pc.

  • 10stonenumber10
    1:40 PM 24/10/2014

    Fair play. Quite funny, completely disarms both fort rows. Had a player said it however, what sort of headline would have been created? I'm sure Owens would have laughed, but the media and political correct brigade would have run with it!

  • katman
    1:16 PM 24/10/2014

    Well played, Nige.

  • stroudos
    12:26 PM 24/10/2014

    Bloody hell, Julian Clary's straighter than that throw. That was almost as wayward as that "worst lineout throw ever" from a couple of weeks ago. (http://www.rugbydump.com/2014/10/3912/midweek-madness-probably-the-worst-lineout-throw-ever)

  • corrie
    12:03 PM 24/10/2014

    SO he says but is it true?